Page 48 of Created in Chaos
The backdoor flies open, and she storms out screaming, “What is wrong with you? Didn’t you see the car?”
Of course I saw the car. “I knew he would stop,” I lie. I know the moment she recognizes the falsehood and what it means, so I admit it out loud. “You’re more important. Besides, I belong to you, and you were leaving me.”
She shakes her head with tears brimming in her eyes which, thankfully, don’t fall before she grabs my shirt and hauls me up on the curb. “Stupid Morningstar, thinks he’s invincible and the world stops for him,” she grates out, releasing my arm. Her words are angry and voiced for everyone standing about watching the debacle unfold, but I don’t care what she says, because I can see what she’s really thinking in her eyes, which haven’t left my face since she got out of the car. She’s relieved I’m okay, more than relieved, and maybe a little mad at me too, but I can deal with that.
“Move along, nothing to see but a Morningstar making sure everyone knows he’s the top dog.” Nova tries to dispel the crowd of onlookers, but no one moves.
“Leave now!” I bark, not taking my eyes off her either.
“Miss,” the driver starts.
“Take a step closer, and I will break your fucking legs. She’s not going anywhere with you.”
Nova sighs. “You better go before I’m responsible for another person’s death.”
“Miss, your grandmother…”
“Will make your death much quicker than I will,” I warn him, then continue, “Lunch is waiting,” gesturing for Nova to walk ahead of me to the car.
I open the door for her and close it securely once she’s seated inside, then run around to the driver’s side on slightly shaky legs. She doesn’t speak or even look over at me, but the heavy tension in the car is enough to have me squirming.
“I have to call Lu so he doesn’t plot my death longer than he needs to,” I tell her to break the silence, but she doesn’t respond.
My Bluetooth picks up, making his voice ring through the car speakers. “Do you have her?” He’s breathing heavily, as if he’s been running.
I glance over at Nova and answer, “Yes. We’re—”
“You’ll be lucky if I ever let you out of my—” I hit the end button, bringing his diatribe to a close.
“He was worried too,” I tell her while my phone begins ringing. I ignore it.
“Worried he would lose control of his game piece,” she grumbles.
“That’s not true. He’s not using you, Nova. Neither of us are. I need you to know that.”
“It’s always what you two need and want. How about what I need?”
“What do you need?” I question sincerely, wanting the answer. If she feels like we’re ignoring her wishes, we need to know.
She snaps her mouth closed so fast, I start to wonder if I screwed up again by asking the question. Is this something I should already know? Eventually, she changes the subject, leaving me to wonder but distracting me all the same. “What the heck was that out there, Nox? You can’t do stuff like that! You could have been killed!” she chastises.
“I will do whatever it takes to make sure you’re safe. Whatever it takes,” I reply, defending my choice, because I would do it again.
“Ugh, you don’t even fight fair! How am I supposed to deal with that? You make taking over my life and dictating what I do and where I go sound chivalrous and sweet, but really, I only think that because I’m just as nuts as you two are. And don’t think I didn’t see the resolve in your eyes, Nox, because I did. I will throttle you myself if I see even a hint of that crap again. Do you hear me?”
“Yes,” I whisper, hoping I can keep that promise to her.
“Good, because I’m serious.” She sulks, and we fall into silence again until I park the car at the side of the house.
“Do you want to wait until Lucian is home to hear his explanation, or do you want me to tell you why he was talking to Grace now?”
“Talking my butt. He was doing more than talking.”
I keep my mouth shut, waiting for her to answer instead of defending him. Somehow, I think that would piss her off more, and that’s the last thing I want to do, even though the urge to tell her she was wrong to leave and get into the car with whomever that was weighs heavily on me.
“I want to hear it from him. He was the one doing it, so he should explain why the heck he was giving face to her.”
“Giving face?” I question.
